Broom-rack.



PATENTED MAY z1 l 1907 N'o. 854,084.V

` o. c. FLETCHER.

BRooM RACK.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO.12, 1,904. BENEWED NOVA, 1906.

ORLAND C. FLETCHER, OF CHICAGO, TLLTNOIS.

BRooM-RACK.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1907.

Application iiled December l2, 1904. Renewed Nvember 2. 1906. Serial No.341,780.

T0 a/ZZ whom, t 11i/Cty concern:

Be it known that l, OELAND C. FLETCHER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at l Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and uselulImprovements in Broom-Racks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in racks for displaying broomsand brushes or similar articles of that type that is designed to besuspended 'from the ceiling oil stores and to clasp or hold the broomsso that they may be removed singly without disarranging the otherbrooms.

The especial objects oi" my improvements is to produce a device of thischaracter that will be cheap to construct and durable and that willpossess sufficient rigidity to retain its Jform and without liability ofbecoming twisted in use thus throwing the brooms out of their originalalinement in the rack.

ln the accompanying drawing which forms a part ol this application:-Figure 1 is a perspective view oil a rack made according to myinvention showing some brooms and a whisk-brush in position, Fig. 2 is aplan view of the base ring of my improved rack; Fig. 3 is a similar viewol' the top ring; Fig. i is a 'fragmentary detail of the base ring on anenlarged scale, and Fig. 5 is a similar detail of the top ring.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A represents the top ring of myimproved rack, and same consists ol' an annular band oi' strap iron ofsuitable thickness and width, to which is secured, by rivets 0,2 whichpass through suitable holes in the band, a wire bent to form a pluralityof wide loops al and narrow loops a. The rivets pass through. some ofthe loops a so that their heads overlap the wire on each side thussecuring the latter to the band. The handles of the large brooms passthrough the loops al and are loosely held between the wires composingsuch loops. The narrow loops a are bent downwardly so as to overlie theinner Jface oi' the band A, thus stifliening the loops.

To the inner side of ring A I bolt the upper ends of four flat metalstraps B, the lower ends of which are similarly connected with the ringD, so that by removing said bolts the said rings can be disconnected forconvenience in packing and shipping. At a convenient point below thering A, a smaller ring C through arrange embracing loops secured whichthe straps B diate ring without loops and metal straps pass and to whichthey are bolted as with the other rings. This ring C serves as areceiver for the handles of smaller brooms as F, and is also useful instiifening the connecting frame formed by the straps B as will beapparent. The base ring D is also of flat strap metal with its endsconnected in any suitable manner and sets vertically in the rack. Thesides of the ring are cut and bent to Jform a plurality of retainingloops d4, which are suitably spaced apart and same are adapted toreceive, and when somewhat flattened, to Jrictionally grip the ver-ticalwires of the loops d1, cl2. These loops are iormed by bending a sectionof wire to the form of an inverted U and then bending the resultantJform at right angles, so that when the legs of the loop are insertedthrough the retaining loops d4, the connecting portion of the loop willextendv at right angles to the sides of the band D, and project beyondthe outer face of the latter.

Each alternate loop, as cl2, has orieof its legs longer than the otherand the eXtra portion is bent inwardly and slightly upward to form aspur as d3 on which may be stuck small brushes or whisk-brooms as Gasshown, or which may serve as hooks for the suspension of any article.The wire from which the loops al, d1, d2, are made has some spring toit, thus giving the loops the requisite resiliency to enable them torictionally grasp the articles placed therebetween.

The bending of the loops d1, d2, has the same sti'iening eect as in theloops CL2, hence l am able to use lighter (and hence cheaper) wire thanwould otherwise be possible, and at the same time produce an articlethat is more rigid than similar articles not possessing this feature ofconstruction.

Tt will be apparent that the manner of attaching the legs of the loopsd1, d2, to the band D, by using portions of the metal of the latter toembrace these legs, avoids the necessity of rivets, and that the samemethod may be used on the loops (L1 in which case the loops d4 wouldembrace or inclose the narrow loops e3.

Having thus described my invention what l claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent', is i# 1. In a rack, an upper ring havingeinbracing loops secured thereto, a base ring having thereto, aninterme- IOO detachably connected with said upper and I base rings andpassing through said intermediate ring. l

2. In a rack, a base ring having a plurality of loops secured thereto,each of said loops consisting of a Wire bent to forni a broom ernbracingportion, and legs adapted to be secured to the ring and sorne of saidloops having portions of their legs bent and arranged to form hooks orspurs, and means for securing said loops to said rings.

In a rack, one or more rings having eyes formed therein by cutting andpunching the metal, a plurality of loops composed of Wire bent to formembracing portions eX- tending at right angles from said ring, andhaving their legs extending through and secured in said eyes.

4. In a rack, a ring, embracing loops secured thereto, said loops havingportions projecting into said ring and forming spurs or hooks forthe'purpose described. A

In testimony4 whereof l aHiX my signature presence of two Witnesses.

ORLAND C. FLETCHER.

Witnesses:

F. BENJAMIN, H. DE Los HIGMAN.

